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Smashed screen
Owch!
26-10-2011
Hello,

I'm a little bit in shock as I type this...

Yesterday I became the proud owner of a lovely Acer Iconia A500 tablet. Tonight was my first real play with it. So, I sat comfortably in the lounge and started tapping away. Then my youngest came running into the room to see what I was doing. You can tell what's coming next! She ran straight into my arm. Tablet flies through the air and lands on the granite hearth.

The screen is smashed. It still works but the screen is smashed!

So, and I know this isn't going to be cheap, does anyone know where can I get the screen replaced?

Daughter is as distraught as me about this. It's not her fault so there's no use in shouting. I'll keep saying that to myself!
Big_Ted
26-10-2011
Originally Posted by Owch!:
“Hello,

I'm a little bit in shock as I type this...

Yesterday I became the proud owner of a lovely Acer Iconia A500 tablet. Tonight was my first real play with it. So, I sat comfortably in the lounge and started tapping away. Then my youngest came running into the room to see what I was doing. You can tell what's coming next! She ran straight into my arm. Tablet flies through the air and lands on the granite hearth.

The screen is smashed. It still works but the screen is smashed!

So, and I know this isn't going to be cheap, does anyone know where can I get the screen replaced?

Daughter is as distraught as me about this. It's not her fault so there's no use in shouting. I'll keep saying that to myself!”


Check your contents home insurance and you might be able to claim on that.
Biffo the Bear
26-10-2011
Can't you just say you opened the box and found it like that?
c4rv
26-10-2011
Don't know if you bought it on CC, might have insurance on it or check your house insurance.

Can't find a UK seller but this one in the US is willing to ship to UK,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-ACE...item415e779d91

$155, around 10 days delivery time
Owch!
26-10-2011
Thanks for the replies...

I couldn't say it was like that when I opened the box - it's not right and I've always said to the kids that honesty is the best policy so practicing and preaching come in to play.

I did have a look at my (ridiculously expensive) home insurance policy - only to find "accidental damage not applicable to computer equipment" - it would be fine for a TV or carpet or anything else. I've never claimed on insurance before - I'll read the policy wording more carefully next year!

Thanks for the eBay link, that gives me hope - I'll have a dig round to see if I can find anything more UK based but at least there is now a last resort.

Now... finding someone to fit a new screen???
c4rv
27-10-2011
The screen should not be to difficult to fit. If its anything like my tablet, once the case is opened then unscrew the old screen, remove the ribbon cable, swap, reattach the screen and reassemble the tablet.
Big_Ted
27-10-2011
I would also get in touch with Acer as fixing yourself or by a non approved shop etc may negate your warranty.

They will sort it hopefully for approx the £120 excess they charge on their extended warranty with accidental damage included.


http://www.acer.co.uk/ac/en/GB/content/support
alanwarwic
27-10-2011
Is it not just the glass rather than the screen?
Corning list it as being one of their's.

http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/featured-products
If the glass is flat maybe just use a glazier !
Thus DIY = £5 if its at all possible.

Quite weird how many were starting to slate it for having a cheap plasticy feel screen.
gds1972
27-10-2011
Originally Posted by alanwarwic:
“Is it not just the glass rather than the screen?
Corning list it as being one of their's.

http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/featured-products
If the glass is flat maybe just use a glazier !
Thus DIY = £5 if its at all possible.

Quite weird how many were starting to slate it for having a cheap plasticy feel screen.”

Most tablets have Capacitive touch screens so I can't see it being as simple or as cheap as going to a glazier.
alanwarwic
27-10-2011
I was guessing that they have the LCD, a capacitive layer and then the glass.
Owch!
27-10-2011
Thanks again for the replies. I contacted Acer who were incredibly unhelpful - they don't carry spare parts and repair would cost more than the price of a new tablet.

I think the next thing I'm going to try is one of the local PC repair shops. Someone has mentioned a company near where I live - does anyone have any experience of anywhere like this, preferably within a 20 mile radius of Belper\Derby?

Thanks again.
Thine Wonk
27-10-2011
Credit card companies give you insurance for a certain amount of days don't they?
freeview_user
27-10-2011
Honestly, just say it was already like that. Acer is a big company and one tablet isn't going to matter. After all, most people (including me) would do that. I appreciate your honesty but Acer did fob you off so they deserve it. Tell your kids you got it repaired.
Thine Wonk
27-10-2011
Originally Posted by freeview_user:
“Honestly, just say it was already like that. Acer is a big company and one tablet isn't going to matter. After all, most people (including me) would do that. I appreciate your honesty but Acer did fob you off so they deserve it. Tell your kids you got it repaired.”

A big company yes, but that doesn't mean it's fair to be dishonest and scam them, it's wrong - just like stealing.

There used to be a day when honestly and truthfulness were the norm. These days society seems to be increasingly full of liars and dishonest people.

We're all worse off for it, paying through the nose for it with insurance fraud whiplash, products, scams.

OP if you paid by credit card you might be covered that way?
freeview_user
27-10-2011
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“A big company yes, but that doesn't mean it's fair to be dishonest and scam them, it's wrong - just like stealing.

There used to be a day when honestly and truthfulness were the norm. These days society seems to be increasingly full of liars and dishonest people.

We're all worse off for it, paying through the nose for it with insurance fraud whiplash, products, scams.

OP if you paid by credit card you might be covered that way?”


Yeah, I agree. I didn't think of it that way
RobinOfLoxley
27-10-2011
Having replaced my laptop screen easily, with loads of videos and suppliers on-line, I thought it would be same for Iconia A500. It's not.

Very few hits. Limited consensus of difficult to get the parts (except for that eBay link) and 'better to buy another unit'.

A repair shop may know better where to look.
I second the checking CC insurance route, if possible.

If you wait a few months, more help maybe available as more people break theirs and post about it!!!
alanwarwic
28-10-2011
I've happily had a Acer laptop for 5 years now but my one contact with them regards to a 'wrong BIOS warning' when updating left me thinking that 'they just don't want to know'.
So I never ever used that 'use at your own risk' BIOS which also disappeared at Acer 6 months later!

It would be sensible for the actual screen manufacturer to have an on-line ordering process for replacements.

I'd suggest trying to bypass Acer 'don't want to know' UK and emailing someone at the Acer Taiwan base. Write in English with a Google translation. I did not need that BIOS so I never became stuck.
Owch!
28-10-2011
Yes, I was thoroughly appalled by the attitude really of Acer. To sell £300 products without providing spare parts is really poor. You can say what you like about Apple but at least the infrastructure to support their products is in place, admittedly at a price.

So, unless my trawl of computer shops comes up with something this weekend then I'll be taking my chances with eBay and a spanner\screwdriver.
alanwarwic
28-10-2011
Apple don't sell parts either, though no doubt you an swap out the tablet for £280 or so.

Aftermarket usually supplies Acer, but that takes time to kick in, or at least it does in the UK.
c4rv
28-10-2011
Originally Posted by Owch!:
“Yes, I was thoroughly appalled by the attitude really of Acer. To sell £300 products without providing spare parts is really poor. You can say what you like about Apple but at least the infrastructure to support their products is in place, admittedly at a price.

So, unless my trawl of computer shops comes up with something this weekend then I'll be taking my chances with eBay and a spanner\screwdriver.”

Apple don't sell parts, you can get them third party. Acer parts are available at a price. Its still a fairly new model and it will take a while for spares to start filter through in enough volume for price to drop.

Also there is not much margin on the £300 device.
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